Cadet 1st Class Zachary Crippen instructs a basic cadet to keep his eyes forward during the bus ride from Doolittle Hall to the Terrazzo June 25, 2011. Cadet Crippen, a cadre member with Cadet Squadron 12, was announced as a Rhodes Scholar by Oxford University and The Rhodes Trust Nov. 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

11/21/2011 - U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Cadet Wing's vice commander and a native of the Philadelphia area was announced as one of 32 American Rhodes scholars, The Rhodes Trust announced Nov. 19.

Cadet 1st Class Zachary Crippen, of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., will likely leave for Oxford in September after graduating from the Air Force Academy in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in foreign area studies.

Crippen holds a 3.81 GPA and is the second-highest ranking cadet in the Cadet Wing. He is captain of the Academy's mock trial team and one of the founding members of the Academy's moot court, which simulates written and oral legal arguments in appellate courts. In addition to his foreign area studies major, Crippen has a minor in Arabic.

"I am humbled by the enormous opportunity now in front of me and thankful to all the people who have helped me along the way," said Crippen, who plans to enter Oxford's master of public policy program and earn a master's degree in global governance and diplomacy. He hopes to eventually become an Air Force judge advocate.

Crippen completed a cultural immersion summer program in Israel as a sophomore to meet with Israeli Defense Force service members and learn about Israeli-Palestinian relations. He traveled to Cairo for a six-week language immersion his junior year.